In a completely unprecedented scenario for the program, Platte County found a unique way to open the season with a victory — doing so with an almost completely inexperienced lineup.
Platte County senior Ellie Fish hits a serve against Staley on Thursday at Platte County High School.
St. Joseph Central took a one-match lead in a dual played over a span of three days last week at Noyes Tennis Complex in St. Joseph. Yet, Platte County came back to win the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles matches Wednesday afternoon to close out a tight 5-4 win — the Pirates’ third straight in a series dating back to 2008.
Platte County led 3-2 when the dual started Monday afternoon but ended up postponed due to inclement weather. The teams returned two days later with this marking the first time the Pirates ever had a dual start and finish on different days.
Even with the lead, Platte County maintained a precarious position with senior Ellie Fish the only returner from last year’s top seven playing at No. 5 singles.
Maggie McBratney, a sophomore making a jump to the No. 1 spot, gave the Pirates an early lead with an 8-5 singles victory, and junior Addy Manye made it 2-0 with an 8-2 victory at No. 3 in her varsity debut. Central would level the dual at 2-2 but fall back behind senior Cosette Stephenson’s exciting 9-8 (7-5) tiebreaker victory.
From there, the rain moved in and forced the postponement.
Fish led her match 5-3 when it resumed Wednesday, only for the advantage to evaporate into a tough loss. That made the score 3-3 going into the three doubles matches, and Central took early advantages at Nos. 1 and 2. The Indians finished off the win at the top spot to move within one victory of taking the dual in comeback fashion.
Instead, Platte County senior Madelyn McFall and junior Emmalyn Burnett took the No. 3 doubles match 8-3, putting all the focus on Holbrook and Fish at No. 2.
Platte County senior Cosette Stephneon hits a backhand in a singles match against Staley on Thursday at Platte County High School.
Trailing 4-3, Holbrook and Fish held on to win a long game that leveled the score at 4-4 and ended up taking the final five games in what ended up being an 8-4 dual-clinching victory. Central still leads the all-time series between the teams 9-6 but has seen that advantage dwindle during the recent run for the Pirates.
Staley 8, Platte County 1
In a nonconference home opener, the Pirates received a double win from the No. 3 tandem of Stephnson and McFall on Thursday at Platte County High School but otherwise struggled against a much more experienced lineup.
Staley went 12-5 in 2021, and brought back the entire varsity lineup plus added sophomore Ella Gates, one of the top 16-and-under players in the region to play No. 1. McFall and Stephenson teamed up for the first time as Platte County veteran coach Zach Keith continues to tinker with the lineup. The Pirates “have the ability to be scrappy” in his words, and he sees a lot of parity and the potential for others beyond the top six to have a chance to contribute at some point.
For now, Platte County also received strong efforts in singles from Fish at No. 5 (8-5 loss) and No. 6 McFall (9-7 loss) in singles against Staley.
Platte County 6, Savannah 3
The Pirates made it a 2-1 week with a solid victory over Savannah in a last-minute addition to the schedule Friday at Platte County High School.
With a 2-1 lead out of doubles, Platte County also took 4 of 6 singles matches. Mayne highlighted those victories with an 8-0 shutout at No. 3, while Fish (8-1 at No. 5), Stephenson (8-4 at No. 4) and Holbrook (8-5 at No. 2) were also winners.
Savannah’s lone win in doubles was a 9-7 victory at No. 1, while Platte County’s No. 2 team of Holbrook and Fish were victorious 8-5 and Stephenson and McFall prevailed 8-2 at No. 3.
